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Circle Trilogy #3
Valley of Silence
The battleground has been chosen for the final showdown between those selected by the gods and the minions of the vampire Lilith. But there is one vampire who dares stand against her. And his love for the scholarly queen of Geall will complete the circle of six - and change the face of eternity.
Having traveled through the Dance of the Gods to the land of Geall, the circle finds themselves convincing then training the people of Geall to defeat Lilith’s vampire army. The Valley of Silence is a forbidding place for the battle of all battles, but the circle continues to prepare through magic and a few early stakeouts that test their strength individually and as a team.
Moira finds herself playing the roles of warrior and royal, as she follows the tradition of her people and prepares to take the crown before leading them into battle. And if that isn’t enough, she finds her thoughts turning to Cian more often than not.
So what’s a chaste and intelligent young woman to do when given less than a month with the man she loves, who’s not a man, but a vampire? And how will the people of Geall fare against an army of blood-thirsty vampires who have had centuries to prepare?
Having traveled through the Dance of the Gods to the land of Geall, the circle finds themselves convincing then training the people of Geall to defeat Lilith’s vampire army. The Valley of Silence is a forbidding place for the battle of all battles, but the circle continues to prepare through magic and a few early stakeouts that test their strength individually and as a team.
Moira finds herself playing the roles of warrior and royal, as she follows the tradition of her people and prepares to take the crown before leading them into battle. And if that isn’t enough, she finds her thoughts turning to Cian more often than not.
So what’s a chaste and intelligent young woman to do when given less than a month with the man she loves, who’s not a man, but a vampire? And how will the people of Geall fare against an army of blood-thirsty vampires who have had centuries to prepare?
506 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2006
1039 people are currently reading
8935 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,225 books60.3k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,122 reviews
April 28, 2025
След толкова години, четенето на историята за избраниците на Мориган беше като среща със стари добри приятели.
Изобщо не се изненадвам, че любовната нишка между Мойра и Кийън е най-силната, тя имаше повече време да се развие от другите две, които също бяха доста добре навързани.
От историята на Лилит ми затракаха зъбите. Но за да не пусна спойлери, нека всеки сам прочете историята на Кръгът и да я осмисли.
Има си и много добра причина Мориган да я е богиня на войната и на съдбите.
Историята наистина завърши трогващо.
Изобщо не се изненадвам, че любовната нишка между Мойра и Кийън е най-силната, тя имаше повече време да се развие от другите две, които също бяха доста добре навързани.
От историята на Лилит ми затракаха зъбите. Но за да не пусна спойлери, нека всеки сам прочете историята на Кръгът и да я осмисли.
Има си и много добра причина Мориган да я е богиня на войната и на съдбите.
Историята наистина завърши трогващо.
February 16, 2017
September 17-18, 2012
Oh, the ending! *le sigh* I just want to read it over and over and over and over again...
August 11, 2009
Cian and Moira... You know, the first time I read this book, it was the last book in my first Nora Roberts series... and so, while I should have guessed that Cian and Moira would hook up (since the trilogy had 3 girls and 3 guys in it and 2 couples had already been formed out of those), I didn't really expect it. They are SO SO DIFFERENT. And, honestly, I didn't see many signs that either of them had feelings for the other until the very end of Book 2.
But they fall in love. And man, it sucks to be them... I also remember the first time I read this book, near the end, I texted my mom something like, "IS THIS GOING TO END WELL???? IF IT DOESN'T, I'M NEVER SPEAKING TO YOU EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!"
I don't speak to my mom anymore. But that's because she moved across the globe and I can't afford the international phone calls... ;) We Skype though. I was very very worried, but Nora came through for me. :) I really should read more of her stuff...
Oh, the ending! *le sigh* I just want to read it over and over and over and over again...
August 11, 2009
Cian and Moira... You know, the first time I read this book, it was the last book in my first Nora Roberts series... and so, while I should have guessed that Cian and Moira would hook up (since the trilogy had 3 girls and 3 guys in it and 2 couples had already been formed out of those), I didn't really expect it. They are SO SO DIFFERENT. And, honestly, I didn't see many signs that either of them had feelings for the other until the very end of Book 2.
But they fall in love. And man, it sucks to be them... I also remember the first time I read this book, near the end, I texted my mom something like, "IS THIS GOING TO END WELL???? IF IT DOESN'T, I'M NEVER SPEAKING TO YOU EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!"
I don't speak to my mom anymore. But that's because she moved across the globe and I can't afford the international phone calls... ;) We Skype though. I was very very worried, but Nora came through for me. :) I really should read more of her stuff...
May 14, 2021
This whole trilogy was done really well. Although the first installment was a bit slow and seemed to get weighed down with a lot of information all at once, it showed you how much stronger love makes you. The second was sweet and playful (if a bit more bloody than the last one) and also showed how love can heal. In this last book, the story had some great twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. Cian and Moira's story is about how accepting love can be.
I thought Cian and Moira were going to go one direction but NR surprised me with the journey she had these two travel. What's between Moira and Cian was so much more than I was expecting. It was a story that will stay with me for a long time. It was fragile in it's complexity but also uplifting. It's both dark and light, good and evil.
The battle against Lilith and the race to save the human race comes to an end in the Valley of Silence. We still see the rest of the happily paired circle but we also get inside Cian and Moira's heads. We get so see the many facets of both these people. We also get to see more of Lilith and her army, we meet the people of Gaell, and all the pieces of the story come together for a final showdown. There was a lot more heartache and a lot more death and carnage but it also was full of hope, determination and the will to survive.
There was just one thing that felt a little off for me. The insta-love that springs between these two was really fast. I mean it takes three books for them to finally spend enough time together to have their first real conversation. I was hoping we got a little more of them spending time together before the big love declaration. I wanted them to get together and I loved them together but that fast beginning felt like it came out of nowhere. Other than that really fast beginning the rest was a beautiful love story. Even with the rest of the story being so great, there is one tiny thing that made this a 4 star rather than a 5 star read. And that was the flashback/memory/mind trick that Lilith makes Cian dream. It was pretty detailed and even though it definitely added to the story, I still found it a bit disturbing. The kill and the sexual situation.
I think what really stuck with me throughout this whole read was that love and hate, good and evil aren't shades of black and white. There are so many layers of reasons, emotions, reactions and thought process that goes into people and what leads them to certain actions. Love and hate are powerful emotions and they can't always be deciphered. This was a unique and captivating read that I know I'll be re-visiting again and again.
I thought Cian and Moira were going to go one direction but NR surprised me with the journey she had these two travel. What's between Moira and Cian was so much more than I was expecting. It was a story that will stay with me for a long time. It was fragile in it's complexity but also uplifting. It's both dark and light, good and evil.
The battle against Lilith and the race to save the human race comes to an end in the Valley of Silence. We still see the rest of the happily paired circle but we also get inside Cian and Moira's heads. We get so see the many facets of both these people. We also get to see more of Lilith and her army, we meet the people of Gaell, and all the pieces of the story come together for a final showdown. There was a lot more heartache and a lot more death and carnage but it also was full of hope, determination and the will to survive.
There was just one thing that felt a little off for me. The insta-love that springs between these two was really fast. I mean it takes three books for them to finally spend enough time together to have their first real conversation. I was hoping we got a little more of them spending time together before the big love declaration. I wanted them to get together and I loved them together but that fast beginning felt like it came out of nowhere. Other than that really fast beginning the rest was a beautiful love story. Even with the rest of the story being so great, there is one tiny thing that made this a 4 star rather than a 5 star read. And that was the flashback/memory/mind trick that Lilith makes Cian dream. It was pretty detailed and even though it definitely added to the story, I still found it a bit disturbing. The kill and the sexual situation.
I think what really stuck with me throughout this whole read was that love and hate, good and evil aren't shades of black and white. There are so many layers of reasons, emotions, reactions and thought process that goes into people and what leads them to certain actions. Love and hate are powerful emotions and they can't always be deciphered. This was a unique and captivating read that I know I'll be re-visiting again and again.
May 7, 2021
2 star read to be honest because this trilogy was just a proper joke.
The extra star is for my boy Cian. We stan a sarcastic brooding hero with dry wit!
The extra star is for my boy Cian. We stan a sarcastic brooding hero with dry wit!
July 28, 2016
Cian & Moira...awesome story, awesome ending. The circle is complete. A Must Read Trilogy.
October 15, 2012
SYNOPSIS: In the kingdom of Geall, the scholarly Moira has taken up the sword of her people. Now, as queen, she must prepare her subjects for the greatest battle they will ever fight--against an enemy more vicious than any they have seen. For Lilith, the most powerful vampire in the world, has followed the circle of six through time to Geall.
Moira also has a personal score to settle. Vampires killed her mother--and now, she is ready to exact her revenge. But there is one vampire to whom she would trust her soul...
Cian was changed by Lilith centuries ago. But now, he stands with the circle. Without hesitation, he will kill others of his kind--and has earned the respect of sorcerer, witch, warrior and shape-shifter. But he wants more than respect from Moira--even though his desire for her makes him vulnerable. For how can a man with an eternity to live love a woman whose life is sure to end--if not by Lilith's hand, then by the curse of time?
I AM SAD TO SAY GODDBYE SOME OF MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS EVER!!!!!
Valley of Silence is the 3rd and last book in Nora Roberts’ Circle Trilogy and the one I loved most.
Continuing the story from Dance of the Gods http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31... , which began with Morrison’s Cross http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26... , the Circle of Six, are in the second month of training and getting ready for the final battle against Lillith.
This book centers on Moira, the Queen of Geall and Cian, vampire and brother of Hoyt, the sorcerer. They have been my favorite characters since meeting them in the 1st book. They have always been more complex than the other four and and the feeling for each other are so intense and so incredible and at times fell pain in my heart for them and the deep and true love they have for one another.
Cian’s inner struggle between the good and evil inside him is so heartbreaking….and seeing Moira’s touching acceptance of her love for him really affected me. Her strength, courage, compassion and understanding and finally having to accept Cian’s decision is so admirable.
The final battle climaxes in Valley of Silence, the dark place that has been a scene of much evil and wickedness and it is here and now where we will find out if good will triumphs over evil.
The action is more fast-paced than the other books…..more suspense, grittier, darker - flying dragons, fire bombs, battles, deaths, frightening vampires, blood flowing into the dark ground. The scene where Moira talks to her soldiers before the final battle is dramatic and incredibly moving.
The ending, which is unexpected and totally incredible and amazing, made me so excited seeing Cian and Moira finally having their HEA…..and what an joyous one it is!!!!
Nora Roberts has created a magical and exceptional paranormal fantasy world of fairies, vampires, witches, time travelling, shape-shifters, time travelling and made it real, so believable to me.
I love reading this series over and over again.
Moira also has a personal score to settle. Vampires killed her mother--and now, she is ready to exact her revenge. But there is one vampire to whom she would trust her soul...
Cian was changed by Lilith centuries ago. But now, he stands with the circle. Without hesitation, he will kill others of his kind--and has earned the respect of sorcerer, witch, warrior and shape-shifter. But he wants more than respect from Moira--even though his desire for her makes him vulnerable. For how can a man with an eternity to live love a woman whose life is sure to end--if not by Lilith's hand, then by the curse of time?
I AM SAD TO SAY GODDBYE SOME OF MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS EVER!!!!!
Valley of Silence is the 3rd and last book in Nora Roberts’ Circle Trilogy and the one I loved most.
Continuing the story from Dance of the Gods http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31... , which began with Morrison’s Cross http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26... , the Circle of Six, are in the second month of training and getting ready for the final battle against Lillith.
This book centers on Moira, the Queen of Geall and Cian, vampire and brother of Hoyt, the sorcerer. They have been my favorite characters since meeting them in the 1st book. They have always been more complex than the other four and and the feeling for each other are so intense and so incredible and at times fell pain in my heart for them and the deep and true love they have for one another.
Cian’s inner struggle between the good and evil inside him is so heartbreaking….and seeing Moira’s touching acceptance of her love for him really affected me. Her strength, courage, compassion and understanding and finally having to accept Cian’s decision is so admirable.
The final battle climaxes in Valley of Silence, the dark place that has been a scene of much evil and wickedness and it is here and now where we will find out if good will triumphs over evil.
The action is more fast-paced than the other books…..more suspense, grittier, darker - flying dragons, fire bombs, battles, deaths, frightening vampires, blood flowing into the dark ground. The scene where Moira talks to her soldiers before the final battle is dramatic and incredibly moving.
The ending, which is unexpected and totally incredible and amazing, made me so excited seeing Cian and Moira finally having their HEA…..and what an joyous one it is!!!!
Nora Roberts has created a magical and exceptional paranormal fantasy world of fairies, vampires, witches, time travelling, shape-shifters, time travelling and made it real, so believable to me.
I love reading this series over and over again.
May 7, 2014
BOOK 1- Felt rushed.
BOOK 2- Felt better.
BOOK 3- Felt fucking fantastic!!
Spoilers may ensue!
The battleground has been chosen for the final showdown between those selected by the gods and the minions of the vampire Lilith. But there is one vampire who dares stand against her. And his love for the scholarly queen of Geall will complete the circle of six - and change the face of eternity.
Thankfully, everything came together and made sense!!!!!!! I just loved the relationship between Cian(brooding vampire) and Moira(princess/queen). It felt REAL. They had legit obstacles to over come and you felt for awhile, 'Hey!!! wait just a dog gone minute! it looks like they wont end up together!'wth?.
I mean they are starting out with a circle of six, 3 men and 3 women, and already everyone has paired up except for those two so logically it made sense they'd end up together. The sexual tension radiating from them both, the denial that they are good for each other. Of course this makes for the classic recipe for some hot, I wanna rip your panties off with my teeth episodes.
But overall I have to give big props for their character developments in this book.
THEN...you have Lilith who has been this blood thirsty, killing everyone in sight and eating small children character through the entire series. BUT !!! you see another side of her that makes you almost, ALMOST feel sympathetic towards her. If you can get past the eating small children attribute.
I also found myself snort giggling a few times due to the comments from Lilith's 6 year old demon son. Literally!!! I'd have done put that 6 year old in time out!! Evil little beast he is!
All in all, even though the first book might turn you off to this series, I strongly suggest riding it out!
BOOK 2- Felt better.
BOOK 3- Felt fucking fantastic!!
Spoilers may ensue!
The battleground has been chosen for the final showdown between those selected by the gods and the minions of the vampire Lilith. But there is one vampire who dares stand against her. And his love for the scholarly queen of Geall will complete the circle of six - and change the face of eternity.
Thankfully, everything came together and made sense!!!!!!! I just loved the relationship between Cian(brooding vampire) and Moira(princess/queen). It felt REAL. They had legit obstacles to over come and you felt for awhile, 'Hey!!! wait just a dog gone minute! it looks like they wont end up together!'wth?.
I mean they are starting out with a circle of six, 3 men and 3 women, and already everyone has paired up except for those two so logically it made sense they'd end up together. The sexual tension radiating from them both, the denial that they are good for each other. Of course this makes for the classic recipe for some hot, I wanna rip your panties off with my teeth episodes.
But overall I have to give big props for their character developments in this book.
THEN...you have Lilith who has been this blood thirsty, killing everyone in sight and eating small children character through the entire series. BUT !!! you see another side of her that makes you almost, ALMOST feel sympathetic towards her. If you can get past the eating small children attribute.
I also found myself snort giggling a few times due to the comments from Lilith's 6 year old demon son. Literally!!! I'd have done put that 6 year old in time out!! Evil little beast he is!
All in all, even though the first book might turn you off to this series, I strongly suggest riding it out!
May 4, 2016
I love this story. I don't know how many times I had tears pooling in my eyes. I tried to keep track, but lost count. ;-)
I loved that the final battle was actually involved, and took several pages (six?) and many scenes to complete. (I read a book recently, can't remember its title, where the final battle took maybe three paragraphs and was incredibly disappointing and anticlimactic.) This battle actually seemed, to me as I was reading it, to be never-ending. (Which is sort of funny when you consider that it was only about six pages long. Obviously there was A LOT going on, lol. I LOVED it!)
Back to my opening remarks: I remember feeling rather teary when Moira was talking with her ladies and they said they were ready and willing and wanting to depart for the battleground with their men in the morning, earlier than Moira had planned to send them. Moira said she was proud to be a woman of Gaell and...cue tears. ;-) (I remember this because I commented on it in my status updates, lol. It was on page 132.)
I also had tears pooling when Cian This was in Chapter 12 and was incredibly affecting.
I'm pretty sure I had more tears pooling at later scenes, though I can't remember when or where exactly, and I'm also pretty sure I ended this book crying. It was such a beautiful ending.
Since this is the final book in this series, the Circle Trilogy, I won't share specifics of the ending. All I'll say is that I was right in who I thought the Old Man was who was telling the story. And it was beautiful. ;-)
I loved that the final battle was actually involved, and took several pages (six?) and many scenes to complete. (I read a book recently, can't remember its title, where the final battle took maybe three paragraphs and was incredibly disappointing and anticlimactic.) This battle actually seemed, to me as I was reading it, to be never-ending. (Which is sort of funny when you consider that it was only about six pages long. Obviously there was A LOT going on, lol. I LOVED it!)
Back to my opening remarks: I remember feeling rather teary when Moira was talking with her ladies and they said they were ready and willing and wanting to depart for the battleground with their men in the morning, earlier than Moira had planned to send them. Moira said she was proud to be a woman of Gaell and...cue tears. ;-) (I remember this because I commented on it in my status updates, lol. It was on page 132.)
I also had tears pooling when Cian This was in Chapter 12 and was incredibly affecting.
I'm pretty sure I had more tears pooling at later scenes, though I can't remember when or where exactly, and I'm also pretty sure I ended this book crying. It was such a beautiful ending.
Since this is the final book in this series, the Circle Trilogy, I won't share specifics of the ending. All I'll say is that I was right in who I thought the Old Man was who was telling the story. And it was beautiful. ;-)
December 25, 2023
Me ha encantado, le pongo 5 estrellas porque no hay más, la pareja me ha enamorado. La parte final ha estado de infarto, no podía parar de leer. Con las batallas finales como los mejores libros de fantasía. Este libro ha sabido para mi gusto combinar romance con fantasía épica y me ha encantado el resultado. Un romance que parecía que no tenía solución. Esta pareja prometía desde el primer libro y ha superado todas mis expectativas y está saga a ido de menos a más. El primer libro no me dijo mucho, el segundo me gustó mucho y este es otro nivel. Y el final me ha emocionado mucho. No pensé que un libro de Nora Roberts me iba a emocionar tanto porque para mi gusto está autora me gusta pero para mi gusto en el romance me deja fria. Para mi gusto uno de los mejores libros de Nora Roberts, para mi es una joyita. Y vale la pena leerse toda la serie para llegar a este.
August 1, 2025
"Are we as we're made, or how we choose to make ourselves thereafter?"
November 4, 2008
I avoided this trilogy for more than a year because I thought that they sounded terrible, and I was annoyed at Nora for jumping on the vampire bandwagon when that isn't what her books are like at all. I read it because I was bored and in need of a quality sedative to fall asleep at night. Truthfully - it was excellent. All three books were epic, and brought back to me the fantasy favorites of my youth. The pairing up of couples didn't feel as contrived as in some of her most recent magic-y trilogies, and the battles and characters were fleshed out and interesting. Bravo to Nora Roberts for tackling this popular genre and making it very much her own!
August 6, 2008
Moira Riddick is a part of the six, a regent whose duty is to her people, and it's just a part of her as the claddagh that is seared on her arm as the sword of her office.
All right, first off, have you seen a claddagh? It's essentially a heart being held by two hands with a crown on top. It's not really a heraldic standard that says, "Mess with the kingdom, and have your arse handed to you on a platter" is it? England has the three lions, the Scottish knights of the thistle have a lion and a thistle for starters, but anyway...
Over the course of three books, Moira and Cian have met, learned to get on and then stay out of each other's way. It doesn't help that Cian is a vampire and Moira's task is to fend off her kingdom from the vampires (a little hair of the dog, eh?) and the book is about how they fall in love while readying the people for a war they don't have the stomach to have.
Although Moira is spunky, brave and not a little bit naive in terms of her emotions to Cian, she doesn't really come across as Queenly - yet this is a role that she's trained for all her life, parents dropping dead aside.
There's a part in the novel when Blair tells Moira that she has to do her 'St Cripsin' speech - you know that speech from Shakespeare's history plays, when he tells his men about how the battle on St Crispin day will make them men, nay, not men, but ubermen? Moira has to do that speech, but falls terribly short. I was embarrassed for her. Hugely.
There's a bit of action in the last chapters of the books, when people are fighting, and swords are swinging, but all the fun was in book two, this was just formality.
All right, first off, have you seen a claddagh? It's essentially a heart being held by two hands with a crown on top. It's not really a heraldic standard that says, "Mess with the kingdom, and have your arse handed to you on a platter" is it? England has the three lions, the Scottish knights of the thistle have a lion and a thistle for starters, but anyway...
Over the course of three books, Moira and Cian have met, learned to get on and then stay out of each other's way. It doesn't help that Cian is a vampire and Moira's task is to fend off her kingdom from the vampires (a little hair of the dog, eh?) and the book is about how they fall in love while readying the people for a war they don't have the stomach to have.
Although Moira is spunky, brave and not a little bit naive in terms of her emotions to Cian, she doesn't really come across as Queenly - yet this is a role that she's trained for all her life, parents dropping dead aside.
There's a part in the novel when Blair tells Moira that she has to do her 'St Cripsin' speech - you know that speech from Shakespeare's history plays, when he tells his men about how the battle on St Crispin day will make them men, nay, not men, but ubermen? Moira has to do that speech, but falls terribly short. I was embarrassed for her. Hugely.
There's a bit of action in the last chapters of the books, when people are fighting, and swords are swinging, but all the fun was in book two, this was just formality.
March 22, 2021
This was such a great end to the trilogy, it was exactly as it should have been. It also featured my two favourite characters out of the circle of six so that definitely upped my enjoyment of it up a degree. My only complaint is that it was a bit too long in some places, it could have been cut down and tightened up and then it would have been perfect!
March 10, 2019
"Prometía ser el mejor libro de la trilogía y lo fue. La historia de Cian y Moira cautiva desde el principio y es maravilloso ver la evolución de estos personajes y de su relación. Me mantuvieron en vilo hasta el final y disfruté con todos y cada uno de los instantes entre ellos. La parte de la batalla contra Lilith podría haber sido mejor, pero eso no me ha decepcionado demasiado porque una parte de mí se lo esperaba".
Reseña completa: https://entrelalecturayelcine.blogspo...
Reseña completa: https://entrelalecturayelcine.blogspo...
December 27, 2012
Omg, I extremely loved this book. I literally couldn't put it down and read it in one day. I have so much to say that I don't know from were to start.
Firts of all I loved the way Nora dedicates one book for each couple but how they still grow and get stronger in the next one. Some would say It was predictable, but hell with them. I' m incredibly pleased when I find out that what Ii expecting came true and that my poor heart can rest of the agony of thinking it might be otherwise.
I have to admit that the Lilith's parts were a little dull for me except for the one when Cian gets into her dreams. And really that bitch really drove me crazy with her changes of mood and insanity.
The well expected battle happend as anyone would expect it to be. A little of fuss here, some blood there, death and screams everywhere. The ending of it, though, was a surprise with that final spell and with who died and who didn't.
I think Cian and Moira were the best part of the book. In the begining of the book I couldn't really see how they would work as Glenna and Hoylt or Blair and Laikin had. The way they simply were perfect for each other. It seemed like this last two were too different to be together. But as the book went on I started to understand the way they fitted together as well as the others. And I would be lying if I say I didn't envy them for that; for just being meant for another person...
Well, to sum up ur crazy if you don't like this book after the other two. From my side, I can say it's one of my favorites and that I'm aeger for reading ot again. Five stars!!!!
ps: Again sorry for grammar, spanglish or misspelling, my writting skills in english are dusty.
Firts of all I loved the way Nora dedicates one book for each couple but how they still grow and get stronger in the next one. Some would say It was predictable, but hell with them. I' m incredibly pleased when I find out that what Ii expecting came true and that my poor heart can rest of the agony of thinking it might be otherwise.
I have to admit that the Lilith's parts were a little dull for me except for the one when Cian gets into her dreams. And really that bitch really drove me crazy with her changes of mood and insanity.
The well expected battle happend as anyone would expect it to be. A little of fuss here, some blood there, death and screams everywhere. The ending of it, though, was a surprise with that final spell and with who died and who didn't.
I think Cian and Moira were the best part of the book. In the begining of the book I couldn't really see how they would work as Glenna and Hoylt or Blair and Laikin had. The way they simply were perfect for each other. It seemed like this last two were too different to be together. But as the book went on I started to understand the way they fitted together as well as the others. And I would be lying if I say I didn't envy them for that; for just being meant for another person...
Well, to sum up ur crazy if you don't like this book after the other two. From my side, I can say it's one of my favorites and that I'm aeger for reading ot again. Five stars!!!!
ps: Again sorry for grammar, spanglish or misspelling, my writting skills in english are dusty.
January 2, 2016
The conclusion of the trilogy and Moira and Cian's story.
The two were the couple I was most interested in from the beginning, as they started with animosity and the obstacles between them seemed insurmountable, which are two of my favorite tropes.
The war is imminent and our heroes are trying to prepare their army and themselves, while dealing with various attacks and mind games by the vampire queen, who's becoming more unhinged as time goes by. There are a few threads involving her that are disturbing, .
Romance in time of war is never easy, but it's even harder for our heroes who know they can have no future despite the outcome of the war. Determined to make the best with the time they've got, when they succumb to each other, they give it their all and their relationship is intense.
The war takes much out of everyone, but .
Engaging story with ups and downs and a main thread that spans the whole trilogy.
The two were the couple I was most interested in from the beginning, as they started with animosity and the obstacles between them seemed insurmountable, which are two of my favorite tropes.
The war is imminent and our heroes are trying to prepare their army and themselves, while dealing with various attacks and mind games by the vampire queen, who's becoming more unhinged as time goes by. There are a few threads involving her that are disturbing, .
Romance in time of war is never easy, but it's even harder for our heroes who know they can have no future despite the outcome of the war. Determined to make the best with the time they've got, when they succumb to each other, they give it their all and their relationship is intense.
The war takes much out of everyone, but .
Engaging story with ups and downs and a main thread that spans the whole trilogy.
July 19, 2008
This book is true to Nora Roberts trilogy formulas, which are as always, predictable, but for some reason I love her trilogies. The story of three women, sometimes she uses men, who have to conquer some quest, almost always involving magic of some sort. Each book of the trilogy focuses on one of the three characters, and they conquer some personal quest of their own, AND fall in love, while contributing majorly to the quest of the whole group, which is inevitably completed/won in the final book of the trilogy.
This book was the third of this particular trilogy. They are easy, easy reads, but I love them for their stories and the backgrounds she brings into them, and if you're like me, you just skip past the overkill of mushy romance scenes. This one gets extra points for having a vampire and dragons in the story.
This book was the third of this particular trilogy. They are easy, easy reads, but I love them for their stories and the backgrounds she brings into them, and if you're like me, you just skip past the overkill of mushy romance scenes. This one gets extra points for having a vampire and dragons in the story.
August 14, 2012
This was by far my favourite book of the trilogy and well worth the wait. Cian and Moira's tale was wonderfully told (okay if a little predictable) and had some actually barriers to it happening. The first two relationships really didn't have any barriers / conflict to them which made them quick fun books to read but not all that amazing. This one had some depth to the issues the pair had to overcome to be together.
Quick note - I'm glad the battle didn't go on forever. I was afraid we were going to have chapters upon chapters of battle scenes which would have been fine in some books but I don't think would have suited the tone of this book at all.
Quick note - I'm glad the battle didn't go on forever. I was afraid we were going to have chapters upon chapters of battle scenes which would have been fine in some books but I don't think would have suited the tone of this book at all.
November 11, 2016
3-1/2 stars.
I thought this was a great conclusion to this trilogy with just the right amount of suspense, action, and romance. I did think the final battle was a little anticlimactic, but I was happy with the way things wrapped up for all six of The Circle.
I thought this was a great conclusion to this trilogy with just the right amount of suspense, action, and romance. I did think the final battle was a little anticlimactic, but I was happy with the way things wrapped up for all six of The Circle.
June 16, 2020
8.5/10
Me ha gustado mucho el final de la trilogia, quizás al principio se me ha hecho bastante lento, y la guerra demasiado rapida. He disfrutado mucho de Cian y de Moira, tambien de los demas personajes.
Me ha gustado mucho el final de la trilogia, quizás al principio se me ha hecho bastante lento, y la guerra demasiado rapida. He disfrutado mucho de Cian y de Moira, tambien de los demas personajes.
April 3, 2016
O Vale do Silêncio o último volume na trilogia do círculo , e o melhor de toda a trilogia, a minha nota para ele são 4,5* faltou um bocadinho so para as 5* mas eu sou muito exigente com elas , Este livro nos deixa onde o Baile dos Deuses terminou que é na preparação para a grande batalha contra Lilith .
Em relação aos outros volumes no Vale do Silêncio achei um romance muito mais trabalhado ,profundo e intimo , ao contrario dos antecessores , a Química e o amor entre o Cian e a Moira foi algo realmente surpreendente e profundo, mas o livro não foi so romance a Nora balançou muito bem o romance com a acção o drama e os segredos que nos são apresentados ao longo da trilogia ,e a autora consigo resolver todo o mistério e todas as perguntas que nos são deixada ao longo da serie sem deixar uma única ponta solta sobre a sua explicação .
Agora deixo aqui algumas citações:
O amor é uma escolha ?
Tudo é
Construímos o destino sempre que viramos a esquerda ou a direita ,sempre que fazemos uma escolha.
Em relação aos outros volumes no Vale do Silêncio achei um romance muito mais trabalhado ,profundo e intimo , ao contrario dos antecessores , a Química e o amor entre o Cian e a Moira foi algo realmente surpreendente e profundo, mas o livro não foi so romance a Nora balançou muito bem o romance com a acção o drama e os segredos que nos são apresentados ao longo da trilogia ,e a autora consigo resolver todo o mistério e todas as perguntas que nos são deixada ao longo da serie sem deixar uma única ponta solta sobre a sua explicação .
Agora deixo aqui algumas citações:
O amor é uma escolha ?
Tudo é
Construímos o destino sempre que viramos a esquerda ou a direita ,sempre que fazemos uma escolha.
May 16, 2024
This final book in the trilogy was very satisfying with Moira and Cian, enemies to lovers, being the strongest couple of the three pairings. Glenna was just a subpar witch and Blair was a whiney warrior with daddy and boyfriend issues who needed to be rescued emotionally. Hoyt and Larkin were awesome heroes with lackluster mates.
The final battle with Lillith was intense albeit it quickly fizzled out and the predictable ending with Brigid restoring Cian’s humanity was a foregone conclusion as soon as the couples where paired off.
This would have been more poignant storyline had Moira and Cian been the focal couple because it would have provided more suspense.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the classic tale of good versus evil against the backdrop of supernatural/Gaelic folklore.
The final battle with Lillith was intense albeit it quickly fizzled out and the predictable ending with Brigid restoring Cian’s humanity was a foregone conclusion as soon as the couples where paired off.
This would have been more poignant storyline had Moira and Cian been the focal couple because it would have provided more suspense.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the classic tale of good versus evil against the backdrop of supernatural/Gaelic folklore.
June 29, 2009
I agree with my friend, kimz, that this was more "mushy" than the other books ... which surprised me, because I expected more @$$-kicking, given that it was all building to a final battle scene! Still, it had a wonderfully sappy ending (just as I predicted), and I was spot-on with the identity of the storyteller ... although I have to wonder about the appropriateness of him sharing all those steamy sex scenes with small children. ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2016
From the all three books I read from this trilogy I remember this one was my favorite that is way I gave it 5 stars
And yes the reason I love it is because of Moira & Cian
And yes the reason I love it is because of Moira & Cian
May 31, 2023
My beautiful late nan owned every single one of Nora’s books.
So when she moved in with us for her last few years we spent the time reading our way through every single one together.
Granted they are not the type of books I like to read, but they were still really good and sweet.
January 16, 2020
Re-read of this killer last book in this series!!! Let's go....
So damn good. Lilith and Lora were as evil and creepy as I remembered them.
So damn good. Lilith and Lora were as evil and creepy as I remembered them.
July 23, 2024
This was the perfect ending to a perfect trilogy. I loved Cian and Moira. I dreamed about Vampires. Nothing compares to this trilogy (okay yes they do) but this was amazing.
August 29, 2021
I had no idea when I started this series that it would be so good. I should have known better with Nora Roberts as the author. This conclusion was perfect! Loved the whole trilogy. Sigh.
January 15, 2013
"It’s a man who stands before you. It’s a man who loves you. It’s a man who asks if you’ll share the life he’s been given, if you’ll live it with him. If you’ll take me as I am, and make a life with me. Geall will be my world, as you’re my world. It will be my heart, as you’re my heart. If you’ll have me." - Cian MacCionaoith
Why are there only 5 stars? Huh? Answer me this, if you please! Stories like this, books and series like this, a great talent with words and images like this deserve more than just five, and ten would still be not enough!
The final month till Samhain has at last arrived, and Geall's forces are gathered and as trained as they can be to face the Vampire army at the Valley of Silence. And the Circle has to be there to lead them, while they still have themselves and their loves to worry about. In all this gloom and doom, Moira and Cian have to struggle to survive as figures of authority - and find it in their hearts to understand that though they love each other, they can never have eternity together...
If by now you don't hold a single bit of sympathy for Cian, then something's wrong with you! A guy with depth, with angles, and so many sides to him that had even the most romantic parts spinning out of expected patterns! Both he and Moira were the true figures of authority in the Circle - let Hoyt fool himself he was the Alpha male, we all know his twin fit that role much better than him, Gods be damned! They were both mature enough to know they couldn't be together, not only cause of their responsibilities and positions, but also due to their nature. Unlike many heroines of Vampire Romance, Moira didn't fool herself in thinking their love for each other would magically make her immortal or something. And even when, as any female in love, she thought of shedding her humanity and her place as queen, Cian was sensible enough to refuse to turn her, to tell her right in her face that the fact she was using his feelings for her against him was hurting him, and to remind her that she was more than just a petty woman who would forget her duty to her people to go with him and live in the dark. Pssst, Edward Cullen who? Pay attention, teen vamp lovers, this is how a true man acts. It's cold, it's ruthless, and all in all makes a girl's heart break, but it was the mere truth with facts, and he loved her enough to tell it without batting an eyelash! Yes, Nora Roberts was awesome enough to understand that no , when a human becomes something else, they don't exactly stay the same. They don't become a sweet pretty thing that just decides to feed on animal blood out of the blue. They become a vicious version of their old self, because vampires are not sweet creatures that eternally love and respect their own prey, the humans. They're killers, and Cian knows that much, and refuses to turn the one person that he saw in light, to something dark. That was how a real knight would act.
He was also strong enough to fight his own nature when the Valley of Silence called to his thirst for blood. He didn't deny it, didn't hide it, and didn't try to sugarcoat things. Instead he went there as much as he could, to learn to fight it and accept it, in order to make sure he wouldn't attack his own comrades. And he wasn't feeding on pigs' blood because of some romanticized thought that humans are his equals or whatever. No, he knew he was above them in terms of physical and other attributes, but he had to do business with them, so again, he was just serving his own advantage in the industrial and economical world.
Moira was a true queen, down to the bone, and never mixed business with pleasure. Her people came first, and it was only because she knew she might have a great chance of dying that she took her love life into her own hands. She didn't take charge of the throne until she knew she could give her people the queen they deserved, one who could lead them to victory, and she was ready to sacrifice as much of herself as she could to make sure they would follow her because they wanted to, not because they felt obliged to. She didn't mind getting dirty to train with her own soldiers and knights, and she never backed down when it came to something she wanted. She surely was no easy little girl who could be stepped upon, and she made damn certain the others knew that. It really comes to no surprise she was the one to pursue Cian instead of the other way around, seeing as she has seen and experienced so many things by now, that her own choice in a lover is not to be taken that lightly. And the way she flat out told Cian he loved her just proves how mature she was of mind, that she would know without him telling her, and she didn't need any kind of coaxing or sweet words to understand and feel it.
The Queen of Geall and the Vampire of Morrigan's Circle were a match truly made in heavens - and hell, too. They understood each other without words or actions, and the drama of the knowledge they can't be together only serves to pull at one's heartstrings even more. The love scenes were more than just hot. It was unbelievably exciting to see big bad Vamp Cian be cornered by the quiet and bookish Queen who was half his size, and how flustered she made him act at times. And while I thought I had seen it all when Moira - a mere virgin! - all but manipulated him into sleeping with her by saying it to his face and then mocking him, when Cian decided to be creative with the mirror, I was like:"Hot, hot, HOT!"
The saddest part had to be when she was reading his letter (ha! told ya he was watching her!). I think I shed a tear or two, as well, because, damn you to all hells, Cian MacCionaoith, you can be heartbreaking even when you're just stating out plain facts!
Now, for the life of me, I can't decide whether to feel sorry or happy that Moira was the one to kill Davey in front of Lilith. Alright, I do feel happy that he was freed, and killed for what he's done to Larkin and Tynan, and blah blah blah. But I also feel sorry for him. I understand Lilith for taking him in as her son. But a lover?! That's sick, man, sick to the core, and for some reason, extremely realistic when you take into account what kind of woman she was. The scene where she was still human and Jarl the demon raped her didn't even serve to make me feel pity for her. As Moira said, you could see it in her eyes that she was actually enjoying this, so, yeah, bitch was a psycho long before she got twisted due to her change in nature.
I loved how the battle didn't take on forever like it does in so many stories. It focused on each of the main villains - Midir, Lora and Lilith - and it was nice to see that each of them got to fight against each of the couples. It was also kind of ironic that Lilith was destined to die either way. Not only if she was to lose the battle, but also if she was to win it. Should all humankind be wiped off in all of the worlds, the vampires would lose their main source of food - and only Cian was smart enough to get used to animal blood, the others would never survive it. So, even if she had won, sooner or later her own actions would catch up with her, and her kind would die of hunger. It fit in a weird way...By the way, has anyone noticed that, as Nola had predicted when she was but a child, it was the MacCionaoith blood that ended the main villains? It was poetic, wasn't it? Hoyt was the one to defeat Midir, Cian staked Lilith, and Blair, Nola's descendant, killed Lora. And I don't know if it was actually amazing or not, but I liked Moira's war speech, though I can't tell if it was because of the words, or because of the LOTR album I had playing in the background. (A little note: trust me when I say this, you want to be listening to such music when it comes to all the scenes from Moira's speech and after, till the end of the battle. I was lucky enough to have it so synchronized with my reading, I was moved beyond words and shivering like crazy when it all came to an end!).
My favorite scene of all the book was the one where they danced before the battle. Yes, it was fan-fucking-tastic to rub it in Lilith's face that they were having fun even when they had to face death come the next night. And it showed a side of humankind that we rarely see in such books. That we love life with such a fierce sincerity, we face doom and destiny with smiles and laughter.
Nora Roberts took what has come to be a common gender in today's literature, and worn-out plot, and completely owned it! She made a story that we hear and read all the time, and somehow turned it into something new, refreshing, and breathtaking altogether! It is known, of course, how talented she is at drawing landscapes in our minds (even now, I can close my eyes and see most of Geall in front of me!), and creating characters that have depth in personality and traits and are more than just realistic, and her romantic scenes always manage to move even the most cynical of souls. But it's rare to see a writer of such a gender to get her hands on something you'd never expect her to, and yet make it even more brilliant than others before her, who have spent years on the task, have ever done!
So, my question remains: WHY ARE THERE ONLY FIVE STARS?!
"So they lived, and they loved. So the circle grew stronger, and formed circles out from it as ripples spread in a pool. The valley that had once been silent sang with music of summer breezes through green grass, the lowing of cattle. Of pipes and harps and the laughter of children.
Geall flourished under the rule of Moira, the warrior queen, and her knight. For them, even in the dark of night, a light shone.
And that brings the tale of the sorcerer, the witch, the warrior, the scholar, the shifter of shapes and the vampire to its own circle." - Cian MacCionaoith
Why are there only 5 stars? Huh? Answer me this, if you please! Stories like this, books and series like this, a great talent with words and images like this deserve more than just five, and ten would still be not enough!
The final month till Samhain has at last arrived, and Geall's forces are gathered and as trained as they can be to face the Vampire army at the Valley of Silence. And the Circle has to be there to lead them, while they still have themselves and their loves to worry about. In all this gloom and doom, Moira and Cian have to struggle to survive as figures of authority - and find it in their hearts to understand that though they love each other, they can never have eternity together...
If by now you don't hold a single bit of sympathy for Cian, then something's wrong with you! A guy with depth, with angles, and so many sides to him that had even the most romantic parts spinning out of expected patterns! Both he and Moira were the true figures of authority in the Circle - let Hoyt fool himself he was the Alpha male, we all know his twin fit that role much better than him, Gods be damned! They were both mature enough to know they couldn't be together, not only cause of their responsibilities and positions, but also due to their nature. Unlike many heroines of Vampire Romance, Moira didn't fool herself in thinking their love for each other would magically make her immortal or something. And even when, as any female in love, she thought of shedding her humanity and her place as queen, Cian was sensible enough to refuse to turn her, to tell her right in her face that the fact she was using his feelings for her against him was hurting him, and to remind her that she was more than just a petty woman who would forget her duty to her people to go with him and live in the dark. Pssst, Edward Cullen who? Pay attention, teen vamp lovers, this is how a true man acts. It's cold, it's ruthless, and all in all makes a girl's heart break, but it was the mere truth with facts, and he loved her enough to tell it without batting an eyelash! Yes, Nora Roberts was awesome enough to understand that no , when a human becomes something else, they don't exactly stay the same. They don't become a sweet pretty thing that just decides to feed on animal blood out of the blue. They become a vicious version of their old self, because vampires are not sweet creatures that eternally love and respect their own prey, the humans. They're killers, and Cian knows that much, and refuses to turn the one person that he saw in light, to something dark. That was how a real knight would act.
He was also strong enough to fight his own nature when the Valley of Silence called to his thirst for blood. He didn't deny it, didn't hide it, and didn't try to sugarcoat things. Instead he went there as much as he could, to learn to fight it and accept it, in order to make sure he wouldn't attack his own comrades. And he wasn't feeding on pigs' blood because of some romanticized thought that humans are his equals or whatever. No, he knew he was above them in terms of physical and other attributes, but he had to do business with them, so again, he was just serving his own advantage in the industrial and economical world.
Moira was a true queen, down to the bone, and never mixed business with pleasure. Her people came first, and it was only because she knew she might have a great chance of dying that she took her love life into her own hands. She didn't take charge of the throne until she knew she could give her people the queen they deserved, one who could lead them to victory, and she was ready to sacrifice as much of herself as she could to make sure they would follow her because they wanted to, not because they felt obliged to. She didn't mind getting dirty to train with her own soldiers and knights, and she never backed down when it came to something she wanted. She surely was no easy little girl who could be stepped upon, and she made damn certain the others knew that. It really comes to no surprise she was the one to pursue Cian instead of the other way around, seeing as she has seen and experienced so many things by now, that her own choice in a lover is not to be taken that lightly. And the way she flat out told Cian he loved her just proves how mature she was of mind, that she would know without him telling her, and she didn't need any kind of coaxing or sweet words to understand and feel it.
The Queen of Geall and the Vampire of Morrigan's Circle were a match truly made in heavens - and hell, too. They understood each other without words or actions, and the drama of the knowledge they can't be together only serves to pull at one's heartstrings even more. The love scenes were more than just hot. It was unbelievably exciting to see big bad Vamp Cian be cornered by the quiet and bookish Queen who was half his size, and how flustered she made him act at times. And while I thought I had seen it all when Moira - a mere virgin! - all but manipulated him into sleeping with her by saying it to his face and then mocking him, when Cian decided to be creative with the mirror, I was like:"Hot, hot, HOT!"
The saddest part had to be when she was reading his letter (ha! told ya he was watching her!). I think I shed a tear or two, as well, because, damn you to all hells, Cian MacCionaoith, you can be heartbreaking even when you're just stating out plain facts!
Now, for the life of me, I can't decide whether to feel sorry or happy that Moira was the one to kill Davey in front of Lilith. Alright, I do feel happy that he was freed, and killed for what he's done to Larkin and Tynan, and blah blah blah. But I also feel sorry for him. I understand Lilith for taking him in as her son. But a lover?! That's sick, man, sick to the core, and for some reason, extremely realistic when you take into account what kind of woman she was. The scene where she was still human and Jarl the demon raped her didn't even serve to make me feel pity for her. As Moira said, you could see it in her eyes that she was actually enjoying this, so, yeah, bitch was a psycho long before she got twisted due to her change in nature.
I loved how the battle didn't take on forever like it does in so many stories. It focused on each of the main villains - Midir, Lora and Lilith - and it was nice to see that each of them got to fight against each of the couples. It was also kind of ironic that Lilith was destined to die either way. Not only if she was to lose the battle, but also if she was to win it. Should all humankind be wiped off in all of the worlds, the vampires would lose their main source of food - and only Cian was smart enough to get used to animal blood, the others would never survive it. So, even if she had won, sooner or later her own actions would catch up with her, and her kind would die of hunger. It fit in a weird way...By the way, has anyone noticed that, as Nola had predicted when she was but a child, it was the MacCionaoith blood that ended the main villains? It was poetic, wasn't it? Hoyt was the one to defeat Midir, Cian staked Lilith, and Blair, Nola's descendant, killed Lora. And I don't know if it was actually amazing or not, but I liked Moira's war speech, though I can't tell if it was because of the words, or because of the LOTR album I had playing in the background. (A little note: trust me when I say this, you want to be listening to such music when it comes to all the scenes from Moira's speech and after, till the end of the battle. I was lucky enough to have it so synchronized with my reading, I was moved beyond words and shivering like crazy when it all came to an end!).
My favorite scene of all the book was the one where they danced before the battle. Yes, it was fan-fucking-tastic to rub it in Lilith's face that they were having fun even when they had to face death come the next night. And it showed a side of humankind that we rarely see in such books. That we love life with such a fierce sincerity, we face doom and destiny with smiles and laughter.
Nora Roberts took what has come to be a common gender in today's literature, and worn-out plot, and completely owned it! She made a story that we hear and read all the time, and somehow turned it into something new, refreshing, and breathtaking altogether! It is known, of course, how talented she is at drawing landscapes in our minds (even now, I can close my eyes and see most of Geall in front of me!), and creating characters that have depth in personality and traits and are more than just realistic, and her romantic scenes always manage to move even the most cynical of souls. But it's rare to see a writer of such a gender to get her hands on something you'd never expect her to, and yet make it even more brilliant than others before her, who have spent years on the task, have ever done!
So, my question remains: WHY ARE THERE ONLY FIVE STARS?!
"So they lived, and they loved. So the circle grew stronger, and formed circles out from it as ripples spread in a pool. The valley that had once been silent sang with music of summer breezes through green grass, the lowing of cattle. Of pipes and harps and the laughter of children.
Geall flourished under the rule of Moira, the warrior queen, and her knight. For them, even in the dark of night, a light shone.
And that brings the tale of the sorcerer, the witch, the warrior, the scholar, the shifter of shapes and the vampire to its own circle." - Cian MacCionaoith
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2010
This third book was a great ending for the trilogy. I really enjoyed this read and loved the happy ending.
This book was full of all kinds of excitement and trails as the circle of six prepare for the battle on the Valley of Silence. At the same time of getting ready for the battle, Moria becomes Queen of Gaell and leads her people into battle.
Moira and Cians romance was wonderful and very exciting. I loved how the story continued to show the love and romance between Glenna & Hoyt and Blair & Larkin as well. I love the fantasy part of the book as well. With the sorcerer and the witches power, they were able to beat Liliths sorcerer with their white magic and with Larkins ability to shapeshift into a dragon and communicate with the other dragons and get them to come and help in the battle was so awsome. And best of all I loved Blairs kick ass skills to take out all the evil.
Each pair of the circle of six had their own battles to win with the enemy and I thought I'd share below each pairs win so here is a little taste:
Blair and Larkins Battle with Vampire Lora - pgs 294 - 295
Blair didn't see the dagger that flew out of Lora's other hand. She stumbled from shock, the pain, when it pierced her side. "Look at all that blood. It's Just pouring out of you. Yum." Lora laughed, a tinkling sound of delight, when Blair fell to her knees. And her eyes gleamed red as she raised the sword high for the killing blow.
With a mad, undulating howl, the gold wolf pounced from above. Claws and fangs raked as he leaped over the swinging sword, as he lunged and snapped. When he bunched to spring for the throat, Blair cursed.
"No! She's mine. You gave your word." Her breath whistled as she stayed on her knees, the dagger still lodged in her side. "Back off, wolf-boy. Back the hell off."
The wolf shimmered into a man as Larkin stepped back. "Get it done then," he snapped, his eyes grim. "And stop messing about."
She yanked the dagger from her side, stabbed it to its bloodied hilt into Lora's belly.
"That hurts, but it's steel."
"So's this." With all her remaining strength, Blair shoved Lora's sword aside, and plunged her own into the vampire's chest.
"Now you're just annoying me." Lora hefted her sword, point down. "Now who's done?"
"You," Blair replied as the blade still in Lora's chest erupted with flame. Burning, screaming, Lora started to tumble from the rock. Blair yanked the sword free, swung it, hard and true, and cut off the flaming head.
Hoyt and Glenna's battle with Liliths Sorcerer Midir's - pgs 296 - 297
"Your fire's cooling. Barely an ember left to glow." Midir stepped closer now to where she lay on the scorched and bloody ground. "Still it might be enough to trouble myself to take, along with what's left of your life."
"It'll choke you." She gasped out the words. hed'd bled, she thought. She'd made him bleed onto the ground. "I'll swear it will."
"I'll swallow it whole. It's so small, after all. Can you see below, can you? Where what i helped wrought runs over you like locusts. It's as I foretold. And as you fall, one by one, my power grows. Nothing will hold it now. Nothing will stop it."
"I will." Hoyt swung, bloody and battered, over the lip of the ridge.
"There's my guy," Glenna managed, gritting her teeth against the pain. "I softened him up for you."
"Now here is something more to chew on." Whirling, Midir shot black lighting.
On the ground, Glenna rolled away from a streaking line of flame, then clawed to her hands and knees. What ever she had left, she gathered to send to Hoyt. While she chanted, the sorcerers - black and white - battled on the smoke-hazed ridge, and in the filthy air above it.
The cross he wore flashed silver and brilliant as Glenna joined her magic to his. With one hand he reached for hers, gripping it firmly when she linked fingers with him and pulled herself to her feet. With the other he raised a sword, and the fire on it went pure white.
"It is we who take you," Hoyt began and slashed away a thunderbolt with his sword. "We who stand for the purity of magic, for the heart of mankind. It is we who defeat you, who destroy you, who send you forever into the flames."
"Be damned to you!" Midir shouted, and lifting both arms hurled twin thunderbolts. Fear rushed over his face when Glenna waved a hand over the air and turned them to ash.
"No. Be damned to you." Hoyt swung down the sword. The white fire leaped from the blade to strike Midir's heart like steel. Where he dropped and died, the ground turned black.
Moira and Cian's battle with Lilith - pgs 298 - 300
"You won't win here." Queen to queen, Moira thought, and blocked Lilith's first testing thrust. Life against death. "We're beating you back. We'll never stop."
"I want to take my time with you, you human bitch. You killed my Davy."
"No, you did. And with what you made him destroyed, I hope what he was, the innocent he was, is cursing you."
Lilith's hand streaked out, flashing like the fangs of a snake. She raked her nails down Moira's cheek.
"A thousand cuts." She licked the blood from her fingers. "That's what I'll give you. A thousand cuts while my army feeds its belly full on yours."
"You won't touch her again." On his stallion's back, Cian rode slowly forward, as if time had stopped. "You'll never touch her again."
"Come to save your whore?" From her belt, Lilith drew a gold stake. "Gilded oak. I had this made for you for when I end you as I made you.
She flew at Cian, then sprang up a sword's length away to spin over his head. As she sliced down, her sword met air while he threw his body up and back, with the heels of his boots barely missing her face. They moved so fast, that eerie speed, that Moira saw little more than a blur, heard the clash of swords like silver thunder.
This would be his battle, she knew, the one only he could fight. But she wouldn't leave him. Leaping onto the horse, she drove Vlad up blood slicked rock until she was position over their heads. There she shot fire from her sword to hold off Lilith's men who tried to reach their queen. She vowed that she and the sword of Geall would stand for her lover to the last.
He fought her, and the war inside him, the thing that struggled to claw free and revel in what it was. What she'd made him. Taking her advantage, she beat his sword aside, and in that flash of an instant he was open, plunged the stake at his heart.
It struck with a force that sent him staggering back. But as her cry of triumph echoed away, he continued to stand whole and unharmed.
"How?" was all she said as she stared at him.
He felt the imprint of Moira's locket against his heart, and the pain was sweet. "A magic you'll never know." He sliced out, scoring across the scar of the pentagram.
Now her screams rang as she came at him with a new and wild strength. He slashed back, spilled more blood, drove as he was driven as the locket seemed to pulse like a heart on his chest.
When she charged, he gripped the wrist of her sword arm in his bloody hand. She smiled at him. "This way then. It's more poetic."
She bared her fangs to strike at his throat. And he plunged the stake she had made for him into her heart.
"I'd say go to hell, but even hell won't have you."
Her eyes went wide, faded to blue. he felt the wrist he held dissolve in his hand, and still those eyes stared into his anothe rmoment. Then there was nothing but the ash at his feet.
"I've ended you," he declared, "as you ended me so long agao. That's poetic."
I love how they end the battle and how in the end, the gods grant Cians life back so he can live as a human with Moira. I also like how the whole story is being told to some children by an old man and in the end, that old man happens to be Cian.
This book was full of all kinds of excitement and trails as the circle of six prepare for the battle on the Valley of Silence. At the same time of getting ready for the battle, Moria becomes Queen of Gaell and leads her people into battle.
Moira and Cians romance was wonderful and very exciting. I loved how the story continued to show the love and romance between Glenna & Hoyt and Blair & Larkin as well. I love the fantasy part of the book as well. With the sorcerer and the witches power, they were able to beat Liliths sorcerer with their white magic and with Larkins ability to shapeshift into a dragon and communicate with the other dragons and get them to come and help in the battle was so awsome. And best of all I loved Blairs kick ass skills to take out all the evil.
Each pair of the circle of six had their own battles to win with the enemy and I thought I'd share below each pairs win so here is a little taste:
Blair and Larkins Battle with Vampire Lora - pgs 294 - 295
Blair didn't see the dagger that flew out of Lora's other hand. She stumbled from shock, the pain, when it pierced her side. "Look at all that blood. It's Just pouring out of you. Yum." Lora laughed, a tinkling sound of delight, when Blair fell to her knees. And her eyes gleamed red as she raised the sword high for the killing blow.
With a mad, undulating howl, the gold wolf pounced from above. Claws and fangs raked as he leaped over the swinging sword, as he lunged and snapped. When he bunched to spring for the throat, Blair cursed.
"No! She's mine. You gave your word." Her breath whistled as she stayed on her knees, the dagger still lodged in her side. "Back off, wolf-boy. Back the hell off."
The wolf shimmered into a man as Larkin stepped back. "Get it done then," he snapped, his eyes grim. "And stop messing about."
She yanked the dagger from her side, stabbed it to its bloodied hilt into Lora's belly.
"That hurts, but it's steel."
"So's this." With all her remaining strength, Blair shoved Lora's sword aside, and plunged her own into the vampire's chest.
"Now you're just annoying me." Lora hefted her sword, point down. "Now who's done?"
"You," Blair replied as the blade still in Lora's chest erupted with flame. Burning, screaming, Lora started to tumble from the rock. Blair yanked the sword free, swung it, hard and true, and cut off the flaming head.
Hoyt and Glenna's battle with Liliths Sorcerer Midir's - pgs 296 - 297
"Your fire's cooling. Barely an ember left to glow." Midir stepped closer now to where she lay on the scorched and bloody ground. "Still it might be enough to trouble myself to take, along with what's left of your life."
"It'll choke you." She gasped out the words. hed'd bled, she thought. She'd made him bleed onto the ground. "I'll swear it will."
"I'll swallow it whole. It's so small, after all. Can you see below, can you? Where what i helped wrought runs over you like locusts. It's as I foretold. And as you fall, one by one, my power grows. Nothing will hold it now. Nothing will stop it."
"I will." Hoyt swung, bloody and battered, over the lip of the ridge.
"There's my guy," Glenna managed, gritting her teeth against the pain. "I softened him up for you."
"Now here is something more to chew on." Whirling, Midir shot black lighting.
On the ground, Glenna rolled away from a streaking line of flame, then clawed to her hands and knees. What ever she had left, she gathered to send to Hoyt. While she chanted, the sorcerers - black and white - battled on the smoke-hazed ridge, and in the filthy air above it.
The cross he wore flashed silver and brilliant as Glenna joined her magic to his. With one hand he reached for hers, gripping it firmly when she linked fingers with him and pulled herself to her feet. With the other he raised a sword, and the fire on it went pure white.
"It is we who take you," Hoyt began and slashed away a thunderbolt with his sword. "We who stand for the purity of magic, for the heart of mankind. It is we who defeat you, who destroy you, who send you forever into the flames."
"Be damned to you!" Midir shouted, and lifting both arms hurled twin thunderbolts. Fear rushed over his face when Glenna waved a hand over the air and turned them to ash.
"No. Be damned to you." Hoyt swung down the sword. The white fire leaped from the blade to strike Midir's heart like steel. Where he dropped and died, the ground turned black.
Moira and Cian's battle with Lilith - pgs 298 - 300
"You won't win here." Queen to queen, Moira thought, and blocked Lilith's first testing thrust. Life against death. "We're beating you back. We'll never stop."
"I want to take my time with you, you human bitch. You killed my Davy."
"No, you did. And with what you made him destroyed, I hope what he was, the innocent he was, is cursing you."
Lilith's hand streaked out, flashing like the fangs of a snake. She raked her nails down Moira's cheek.
"A thousand cuts." She licked the blood from her fingers. "That's what I'll give you. A thousand cuts while my army feeds its belly full on yours."
"You won't touch her again." On his stallion's back, Cian rode slowly forward, as if time had stopped. "You'll never touch her again."
"Come to save your whore?" From her belt, Lilith drew a gold stake. "Gilded oak. I had this made for you for when I end you as I made you.
She flew at Cian, then sprang up a sword's length away to spin over his head. As she sliced down, her sword met air while he threw his body up and back, with the heels of his boots barely missing her face. They moved so fast, that eerie speed, that Moira saw little more than a blur, heard the clash of swords like silver thunder.
This would be his battle, she knew, the one only he could fight. But she wouldn't leave him. Leaping onto the horse, she drove Vlad up blood slicked rock until she was position over their heads. There she shot fire from her sword to hold off Lilith's men who tried to reach their queen. She vowed that she and the sword of Geall would stand for her lover to the last.
He fought her, and the war inside him, the thing that struggled to claw free and revel in what it was. What she'd made him. Taking her advantage, she beat his sword aside, and in that flash of an instant he was open, plunged the stake at his heart.
It struck with a force that sent him staggering back. But as her cry of triumph echoed away, he continued to stand whole and unharmed.
"How?" was all she said as she stared at him.
He felt the imprint of Moira's locket against his heart, and the pain was sweet. "A magic you'll never know." He sliced out, scoring across the scar of the pentagram.
Now her screams rang as she came at him with a new and wild strength. He slashed back, spilled more blood, drove as he was driven as the locket seemed to pulse like a heart on his chest.
When she charged, he gripped the wrist of her sword arm in his bloody hand. She smiled at him. "This way then. It's more poetic."
She bared her fangs to strike at his throat. And he plunged the stake she had made for him into her heart.
"I'd say go to hell, but even hell won't have you."
Her eyes went wide, faded to blue. he felt the wrist he held dissolve in his hand, and still those eyes stared into his anothe rmoment. Then there was nothing but the ash at his feet.
"I've ended you," he declared, "as you ended me so long agao. That's poetic."
I love how they end the battle and how in the end, the gods grant Cians life back so he can live as a human with Moira. I also like how the whole story is being told to some children by an old man and in the end, that old man happens to be Cian.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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